Swaddle
Babies drop naps several times in the first two years, as their wake windows stretch and they can handle longer stretches awake. Each transition can feel messy for a week or two. Knowing the signs makes it easier.
Nap transitions at a glance
| Transition | Usual age | Wake windows after |
|---|---|---|
| 4+ naps to 3 | 3-5 months | About 2-2.5 hours |
| 3 naps to 2 | 6-9 months | About 2.5-3.5 hours |
| 2 naps to 1 | 13-18 months | About 4.5-5.5 hours |
| 1 nap to none | 3-4 years | Quiet time instead |
Ages are typical ranges, not deadlines. See the sleep schedule for each age for sample days.
Signs your baby is ready to drop a nap
Look for a pattern most days for about two weeks, not a few rough days:
- Taking a long time (20+ minutes) to fall asleep for one nap, or skipping it
- Short naps where there used to be long ones
- The last nap pushes bedtime too late
- New early morning waking or split nights
- Seeming well rested even on days with one fewer nap
A few days of nap refusal is often a phase, not a transition. Teething, illness, travel and big new skills can all upset naps for a while.
4 to 3 naps (around 3-5 months)
The fourth nap is usually a short late-afternoon catnap. As wake windows grow toward 2 hours, it stops fitting. Let the last nap go, and bring bedtime earlier for a while, often by 20 to 30 minutes.
3 to 2 naps (around 6-9 months)
- Stretch the morning wake window by 10 to 15 minutes every few days.
- Move the second nap later so the day has a morning nap and an early-afternoon nap.
- Drop the third catnap, and use an early bedtime (even 6 to 6:30 pm) during the switch.
- On rough days, a short car or stroller nap in the late afternoon is fine.
2 to 1 nap (around 13-18 months)
- Push the morning nap later by 15 minutes every few days until it lands around 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
- Offer an early lunch before the nap.
- Let the nap run 1.5 to 3 hours if your toddler needs it.
- Use an earlier bedtime for a few weeks. Late afternoons are often the hardest part.
A nap strike around 10 to 12 months is very common and usually passes. Read about the 12 month sleep regression.
1 nap to none (around 3-4 years)
Most children keep a nap until somewhere between 3 and 4 years. When the nap starts pushing bedtime very late, or your child rarely falls asleep for it, swap it for quiet time in their room and bring bedtime a little earlier.